Liquid flow controlling device



Aug. 6, 1940. J; s DU N 2,210,118

LIQUID FLOW CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1937 IN VENTOR. Jfi/WESas. DU/VCW/V.

Patented Aug. .6, 1940 James A. S. Duncan, D'etroit, Mich.

Application December 15, 1937, Serial No. 179,941

1 Claim.

This invention relates to flow controlling devices for liquids, andparticularly toimproved apparatus for preventing unwanted surges inliquid fuel supply lines and other conduits.

In feeding fuel oil to burners of the so-called high-low type, thesupply must be alternately started and cut oif. When, after an offinterval, the flow is turned on (by an automatic valve or the like) andcombustion is started, undesirable results frequently occur, as thesudden full supply of fuel somewhat floods the burner, causing thelatter to ignite with an objectionable puff and resulting in incompletecombustion and its accompanying soot and smoke.

An important object of this invention is to provide a flow controllingdevice which, when used with a valve, prevents such surges of fuel,causing the flow to start and stop gradually, and preventing noise, sootand incomplete combustion.

Another object is to provide such a device which incorporates no movingparts and which, when the liquid is flowing normally, offers norestriction to such flow of liquid.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingillustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similarreference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a substantially central cross sectional view of an assemblycomprising an automatic valve and a regulating device constructedinaccordance with this invention, diagrammatically showing thecontrolling means for the valve, and the burner which the valve in turncontrols.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the controlling gate element removedfrom the assembly.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a somewhat modified gateelement, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified flow controlling device.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, I0designates a conduit 'such as is used for supplying fuel oil to an oilburner, as 28. Conduit lfll leads to the controlling assembly, while acontinuation l 1 leads from the controlling assembly to the burner. Thefuel flow is adapted to be started and stopped by theelectromagnetically operated valve, which is controlled by a thermostatT and supplied with current from a transformer or other suitable sourceas l3. casing of the valve is designated I5. The valve member 20normally rests upon valve seat 22" to close the valve, but is adapted tobe liftedby a The solenoid 25 whose slidablecorezl surrounds the valvein such manner as to raise the valve when the solenoid is energized. andto allow it to fall I when it is deenergized. The core is slidable onthe valve the lost motion thus provided imparting an impact action andpromoting quick opening and closing and firm seating.

To the valve body 30 is attached a chambered casing 3|,}within which isarranged a metering gate 33 connected to the outlet and upstandingwithin the casing 3| in such fashion as to partially block the outflowof oil whenever the level within the chamber is below a predeterminedpoint. The gate is tubular in form and open at its top, and may be sodesigned that full flow is only possible when the oil overflows its top.A series of orifices as 35 extend through the wall of the gate element.Through these orifices, as the oil levelrises in casing 3|, oil may flowto the outlet at a controlled and increasing rate; A

protecting screen as 36 may surround the gateif desired.

By virtue of is opened, assuming empty, the full flow of oil released.by the valve cannot surge at once to the'burner feed pipe II. The levelmust first rise in the gate. chamber. The rising oil escapes to theoutlet through more and more of the orifices 35 asthe level rises. Thetotal area of all of the orifices may equal or exceed the maximum flow,so that the oil need not overflow the gate member, although this is amatter of choice, and it will readily be seen that if desired the fullflow may be permitted only whn the gate is. overflowed. Only a gradualincrease in'flow is thus permitted, and flooding of this construction,when valve 2|] the burner is effectively prevented. The rate of increaseis of course controlled by the diameters of the apertures.

As shown in Figure3, a single metering orifice as 35A may be formed inthe gate, and a V shape vmay be employed to allow a controlled increaseof' rate of flow faster than would otherwise occur as the level rises. d

Another somewhat modified controlling device,

shownuin Figure 4comprises a simple box-like casing 3|B divided by apartition 333. The two chambers formed by the partition are connected tosupply and delivery pipes as l l'lB-'l IB, respectively. An aperture 35Bin the partition, whose width increases in graduated V form from bottomto top, controls the rate of flow to the outthe gate chamber 3| to be'QUID Fnow ,1 4 I let, and it'will be apparent that afterthe flow I hasbeen decreased or stopped, a sudden increasev in the rate of delivery ofthe liquid cannot corresupply pipe therefor, an automatic valve movableV to and from a fully opened position, to open and close said pipe,automatic flow graduating means incorporated in said pipe between thevalve and the burner to reduce the fuel flow below normal and preventsurge when the valve is suddenly opened after a closed interval, saidmeans allowing a full flow of fuel during normal operation, including achambered casing into which the fuel from the valve is delivered, saidcasing having outlet portions of graduated proportions, to increase thetotal area of said portions from bottom to top, whereby said outletportions allow only a restricted flow therethrough when the level insaid chamber is low, and permit a graduated increase in such flow as thelevel in the chamber rises.

JAMES A. S. DUNCAN.

